The September forecast was for showers which I naively thought we could dodge. Hopping off the train at Reading station, we crossed the Thames into Christchurch Meadows, where the heavens opened and I got chastised for not bringing anything waterproof.
Our intended destination was The Clifton Arms...but the Fox & Hounds came first...
This is a cracking, well-known, Berkshire pub, with a well-deserved reputation for cask ales and craft beer.
Five cask options to pick from, featuring Arbor, Brass Castle, Wylam, Fyne, and the local Elusive Brewery. I stuck local myself, with a fine 'Arc' pale ale from Elusive. Served by a friendly young man who got into a discussion with us about how many people dived into pint measures of sour beers (more than we'd imagine).
This was probably the quietest I've seen the Fox & Hounds, although the clock had only just ticked past noon. But I didn't need a crowd of folk to be content this lunchtime, sheltered from the rain, pint of pale ale in a handled mug, Fontaines DC in the background never sounding so good.
I know it was only supposed to be a quick stop for a bit of shelter, but I couldn't resist picking something else from the craft selection. That'd be a Verdant 10 years celebration 8% double-IPA collaboration with US brewery Fidens. Mmmmm.
I know it was only supposed to be a quick stop for a bit of shelter, but I couldn't resist picking something else from the craft selection. That'd be a Verdant 10 years celebration 8% double-IPA collaboration with US brewery Fidens. Mmmmm.
Here's a bit of blue plaque history on the outside of the Fox & Hounds...
The rain had stopped.
And we were thirty seconds brisk walk down the road from the new Beer Guide entry, The Clifton Arms.
So, to be honest, we didn't really need to stop to shelter in the Fox & Hounds, which just shows it was a sham excuse to start the day on double-IPAs.
And we were thirty seconds brisk walk down the road from the new Beer Guide entry, The Clifton Arms.
So, to be honest, we didn't really need to stop to shelter in the Fox & Hounds, which just shows it was a sham excuse to start the day on double-IPAs.
I must have walked past this a fair few times, having (I think) visited all the other nearby Caversham pubs. It's a proper traditional boozer that has been in the hands of the same landlady since 1995.
With a needy dog that gets the best bit of cushioned bench seating in the house and multiple signs telling us she doesn't need buggers like us waking her up to be stroked.
The 2025 Beer Guide is looking good, even though I much prefer 2024's Iron Maiden cover to fictional pubs from soap operas. The counties are back in alphabetical order, which is a very welcome improvement, meaning it doesn't take me five minutes trying to find the region I live in.
I have four new Oxfordshire pubs to visit, and seven to keep up with the completion of neighbouring Berkshire. We'd reduce that by two on this trip.
But just remember that the Good Beer Guide doesn't always lead you to the places with the widest or most exotic real ale choices...
So, we had a beer I wasn't especially excited by and a dog I couldn't stroke.
But, on the plus side, Mrs PropUptheBar could watch Chelsea winning on the TV (she'd skipped the Brakspear, "the original taste of Oxfordshire" (according to the pump clip), and was drinking J2O).
There were a decent number of punters in for the early hour, someone feeding the jukebox and lining up hard rock classics to compete with the football commentary.
I have four new Oxfordshire pubs to visit, and seven to keep up with the completion of neighbouring Berkshire. We'd reduce that by two on this trip.
But just remember that the Good Beer Guide doesn't always lead you to the places with the widest or most exotic real ale choices...
But, on the plus side, Mrs PropUptheBar could watch Chelsea winning on the TV (she'd skipped the Brakspear, "the original taste of Oxfordshire" (according to the pump clip), and was drinking J2O).
There were a decent number of punters in for the early hour, someone feeding the jukebox and lining up hard rock classics to compete with the football commentary.
There was no 8% craft beer to tempt me into a second in the Clifton Arms, so we moved on, getting an 'enjoy your day' and 'cheerio' from the locals, which is always a good sign.
We crossed the river again and walked back into the busy centre of Reading, aiming for somewhere I'd not been for many a year.
We crossed the river again and walked back into the busy centre of Reading, aiming for somewhere I'd not been for many a year.
Zero Degrees Microbrewery and Restaurant (9 Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LR)
Part of a small chain, this brewpub opened in Reading in 2007. It stretches from a frontage of a traditional red-brick building on Gun Street (the restaurant bit), to the modern steel frame construction at the back on Bridge Street (the bar and brewery bit).
I've always found it a bit of a 'cold' place with a sparse choice of seating around the bar - none of it comfy.
Part of a small chain, this brewpub opened in Reading in 2007. It stretches from a frontage of a traditional red-brick building on Gun Street (the restaurant bit), to the modern steel frame construction at the back on Bridge Street (the bar and brewery bit).
I've always found it a bit of a 'cold' place with a sparse choice of seating around the bar - none of it comfy.
But I've had a fair few good beers here over the years, including getting caught out by a 6% Märzen that didn't mix well with rum cask cider in the Ale House.
On this occasion I was drawn to the Black Lager, the other option being their signature mango pale ale.
Exmoor pull off calling a beer 'The Beast' quite well.
This 4.6% lager didn't really live up to the name.
Exmoor pull off calling a beer 'The Beast' quite well.
This 4.6% lager didn't really live up to the name.
Zero Degrees provide the latest shiny brewing equipment pictures for the blog...
Thank you very much to Mrs PropUptheBar for the pizza and beer in Zero Degrees. Although she wasn't feeling quite so generous to treat me to the Meter-Long...
Doesn't say how wide it is though, does it?!
We drank up swiftly after checking bus times, and jumped straight aboard a waiting Purple 17 to Tilehurst.
Where the sun always shines.
The blue skies over our next Beer Guide listed pub were a dramatic change from the lunchtime rain.
Where the sun always shines.
The blue skies over our next Beer Guide listed pub were a dramatic change from the lunchtime rain.
Of all the new places to visit in Berkshire in the new beer guide, I hadn't expected to be making a trek into Tilehurst again. Perhaps I should have just started at the sizzling grill Tylers Rest and crawled around the lot, pre-empting Reading CAMRA sticking the next one in the guide!
At the Victoria we found a trio of real ales available: Pride, alongside seasonal offerings from Butcombe or St Austell.
I ordered a pint of the St Austell 'Thunder Struck', 'cos...y'know...AC/DC.
It has undergone a big refurbishment in 2014 turning it into everything you'd expect from a suburban all-rounder.
We grabbed one of the last remaining tables where we could keep track of the latest football scores on a TV screen.
You'll spot the young lad in his replica Forest kit in the picture above. I got chatting football with his Derby-county supporting granddad. Only for the youngster - in his glorious Forest kit - to pipe up "I'm Spurs, me".
Crucially, that St Austell beer was on good form.
Two new Berkshire pubs from the Good Beer Guide, both serving good beer. Who would have thought it?
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